Socketless electric bulb



April 21, 1931. G. A. BLANK 1,302,167

SOCKETLESS ELECTRIC BULB Filed Feb. 19, 1927 I TL Patented Apr. 21, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SOOKETLESS ELECTRIC BULB Application filed February 19, 1927. Serial No. 169,543.

The present invention relates to new and useful improvements in electric lamps, and it pertains more particularly to an electric lamp especially adapted for display purposes, such as the making of letters, figures or the like for use partlcularly in electric signs.

It is one of the objects of the present invention to provide a new and improved electric lamp so constructed that a plurality of such lamps may be secured together in angular relation to one another to form letters, figures or the like especially adapted for display purposes as in electric signs.

It is a further object of the invention to so construct the electric lamps that regardless of the angular position in which a plurality of these lamps are arranged, the electric circuit through the several lamps will at all times be complete, and with a minimum amount of wiring.

With the above, and other objects in view which will readily become apparent as the nature of invention is better understood, reference is had to the accompanying drawings,

in which,

Figure 1 is a view in elevation of an electric lamp constructed in accordance with the present invention, and;

Figure 2 is a view in end elevation thereof.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 1 looking toward the center of the tube.

Referring more specifically to the drawings, the reference numeral 1 designates the bulb or vacuum chamber of the lam this bulb or vacuum chamber being pre erably formed from glass.

In the present illustration of the invention, two conductors are led through the bulb or vacuum chamber 1, and bridging the conductors 2, there is a suitable filament 3 which is electrically connected with said conductors 2.

Secured to each end of the bulb or vacuum chamber 1, there is an end member 5 formed from any suitable insulating material. Each of these end members 5 is formed with a right angularly disposed relatively thin substantially circular portion for presenting a flat face 8, having a preferably centrally disposed opening 9 for a purpose to be hereinafter more specifically described.

Each of these portions 4. has on its flat face a plurality of arcuate contact members 6 and 7 so arranged on its fiat face that when two or more of the lamps are secured together by placing the flat faces of their end members together and passing a bolt through the registering openings 9, the contact members of each end member will engage the corresponding contact member of the lamp secured thereto.

As shown in the drawings, these contact members have electrical connection with the conductors 2, and said contact members form the means by which a continuous current is caused to flow between lamps when a plurality of lamps are secured together.

To form letters, figures or designs, it is 7 only necessary to secure a plurality of these lamps together in any desired angular relation, the shape of the end members 5 and the contact plates 6 and 7 readily permitting of any arrangement of lamps and at the same 7 time maintaining electrical connection between the: filaments of the several lamps. Electric current may be supplied to the lamps in any desired manner, but preferably this is accomplished by having lead wires connected to a suitable source of power and carrying suitable connectors which will engage the contacts 6 and 7 of the lamp to which they may be attached.

From the foregoing it is apparent that the present invention provides a new and improved electric lamp so constructed that a plurality of such lamps may be secured together in substantially any desired angular relation and at the same time maintain electrical connection between the filaments of the several lam Having thus d escribed the invention, what is claimed is 1. A11 incandescent electric lamp for use 5 for display purposes, comprising a main body portion, an end portion projecting from each end of said ody portion, said end portions each having a flat bearing face provided .with a substantially centrally arranged opening whereby a plurality of said lamps may be secured to- 'ether in angular relation with the bearin iaces of adjacent lamps in contact with eac 1 other, to form letters, figures and the like, a filament for said lamp, and contact lates arranged in the bearing face of eac end portion, said contact plates being of arcuate form to maintain electrical connection between the several lamps regardless of their angular relation to one another.

2. An incandescent electric lamp comprising a main body portion of elongated form, a relatively thin, and substantially circular end member projecting from each end of said elongated body portlon, each of said end members being perforated and having a flat bearing face, a filament for said lamp, said filament extending from one of said end members to the other end member, and passing through the body portion of the lamp, and arcuate contact members carried by the end members, said contact members being arranged in exposed position upon the end members whereby when a plurality of said lam s are secured together, electrical connectlon between adjacent lamps will be maintained.

GEORGE A. BLANK. 

